The damp farewell for a team that could have helped revolutionise Super Rugby
The Sunwolves’ four-and-a-half-year stint in Super Rugby has come to a rather unceremonious end.
The Japanese-based side’s addition to the competition in 2016 was met with trepidation in many circles.
Yes, Japan’s historic win over the Springboks at the 2015 World Cup was impressive, but consistency wasn’t exactly the Brave Blossoms’ strong point.
Kieran Read went on a last-gasp quest to make it back to New Zealand from Japan:
In the build-up to that 2015 tournament, Japan struggled against the Pacific Island sides as well as the likes of Canada, USA and Georgia.
Even just one Super Rugby franchise for a country boasting a population 26 times the size of New Zealand’s seemed like a big ask.
And so it came to be, with the Sunwolves becoming the new whipping boys of the competition.
Throughout their Super Rugby history, the Sunwolves posted just 9 wins from 68 games.
They mustered some impressive wins along the way – including knocking over former champions such as the Blues, Chiefs, Waratahs and Reds – but, more often than not, they found themselves well-accounted for.
For every surprise victory, there was a corresponding 50-point loss. Lowlights would certainly include the 17-92 drubbing handed to them by the Cheetahs in 2016 as well as the 17-83 crushing from the Hurricanes a year later.
This year’s 5-64 loss to the Reds is also up there, given that in 2018 the Sunwolves won the corresponding fixture 63-28.
To convert a 35-point victory into a 59-point loss in just two years underlines the inconsistency of the Sunwolves – not helped by the fact that the side has experienced more turnover than most other teams in the competition.
That’s really the biggest disappointment surrounding the Sunwolves.
Instead of using the team to bolster the national side and strengthen rugby as a whole in Japan, the Sunwolves were propped up by countless foreigners.
Had those foreigners significantly strengthened the team then there would be some justifications for the recruitment decisions, but evidently that hasn’t been the case.
2020’s side is made up almost exclusively of foreign players after Japan shifted their local Top League competition to coincide with Super Rugby.
Even when the Sunwolves haven’t been at their strongest, fans have still been treated to seeing the likes of Michael Leitch, Kotaro Matsushima and Kenki Fukuoka – men who starred at the 2019 World Cup.
Evidently, despite a handy foreign contingent, Japan’s only Super Rugby side still helped strengthen the national team and gave national representatives more regular matches against high-level opposition.
The @Sunwolves have once again opted for a number of foreign players in their @SuperRugby squad – and it's not going to do them any favours with SAANZAR, writes @TomVinicombe. https://t.co/rjILxrltIB#SuperRugby #Sunwolves #Awoooo
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 27, 2019
Regardless of the side’s lack of local players in 2020, it will be a massive shame to see a Super Rugby sans the Sunwolves next year.
That loss is only further amplified due to the disappointing end to the current season which saw just seven rounds of competition completed before everything stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The abrupt finish is a huge kick in the teeth to the Sunwolves’ many fans, with the Japan side arguably the best-supported club in the whole competition and Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium regularly packed out with (literally) howling fans.
It also curtails any chances of the Sunwolves ticking off an accomplishment agonisingly close to achieving – securing a win over the four current Australian Super Rugby sides.
The Sunwolves’ thrashing of the Reds in 2018 marked their first win over an Australian side, with wins against the Waratahs and Rebels coming in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Their final scheduled game of the year would have seen the Sunwolves take on the Brumbies in Canberra – but it’s no longer to be.
Instead, the Super Rugby season has stuttered to a disappointing halt and, somewhat like the Sunwolves’ tenure in the competition, will be written off as a massive disappointment.
Comments on RugbyPass
Just such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
4 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
4 Go to comments